Chapter 785 Gaze Upon the Sky, Primordial Sea!!!
Infinite reflections and radiance emerged.
From the Noble Phantasms unleashed by the heroes.
"If we want to impose 'lines of death' upon Tiamat, we must first weaken her to a certain extent. Otherwise, even if the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception take effect, the 'death' we can reach would be too minuscule to grasp!"
These were Sakatsuki's words entrusted to everyone before the final battle began.
To put it in gaming terms—to expose a boss's weakness, you must first deplete several of her health bars first!
Thanks to Sakatsuki's second magecraft, the summoned Primordial Giant served as an excellent distraction. To expand their Mother's authority, even the Bel Lahmu were drawn to its presence, frantically attacking 'Adam' who competed with Mother for territory.
Seizing this opportunity, the Servants launched their assault!
"Shana-ou Ryuuritan—"
The famed blade Usu-midori carved through the air with razor-sharp brilliance. The Lahmu roared in fury, yet before they could close in, they were shredded to pieces by the blade's aura. The young woman of the Minamoto clan lowered her sleeves with closed eyes. Though she merely assumed a single iaido stance, her spirit had already locked onto the Lahmu soaring through the sky.
Then—silver light crisscrossed the air.
"Hassou Tobi!"
The Lahmu blocking the path were torn apart. Amidst countless scattered limbs fluttering like butterflies, a figure in white robes emerged, blade raised high, breaking free from the carnage!
By the time the Bel Lahmu reacted, the spiraling blade was already upon it. Chaotic magical energy gathered into a single concentrated beam along the famed sword, erupting violently as Ushiwakamaru lunged forward, piercing through the layers of closing limbs.
Its momentum was unstoppable!
"Roar—!" The Bel Lahmu let out an incredulous roar, unable to believe that a mere Servant could breach its defenses!
While bellowing, it frantically stabbed at the white-robed girl's body, tearing her flesh apart with its claws. Yet as the illusions dispersed, it realized in shock that what had pierced its chest was merely a sliver of blade light. More and more killing intent materialized into the figures of white-robed girls, stepping upon the scattered limbs in midair, locking onto it!
The next instant—the 'Ushiwakamarus' leaped simultaneously!
From within the nearly frozen flow of time, the Bel Lahmu roared, wildly thrashing its claws and spewing deadly beams of magic.
One after another, the phantoms were torn apart. The razor-sharp blade lights scattered, yet the ruthless, solemn faces of the girls reappeared, swinging their blades down at the Bel Lahmu. The monster shrieked, its distorted claws thrusting outward—only to be shattered into pieces by the gleaming blade light.
Before the truly fatal strike could reach it, the Bel Lahmu curled its body inward and triggered a violent self-destruction, as if seeking its own annihilation!
Boom!
Crimson-black ripples expanded, greedily devouring the countless blade lights, even forcing Ushiwakamaru's true body out from the gaps. The girl, clad in wooden sandals, retreated explosively, yet her arm was still swallowed by the extreme light, losing sensation and form in the blink of an eye.
"As expected of a child born from Mother. Truly not an existence whose head I can sever alone."
Unfazed, she switched her beloved blade to her other hand. The one-armed Ushiwakamaru raised her eyes, her tone carefree, yet her expression couldn't conceal her gravity.
For the Origin Sea had surged with waves, reconstructing the monstrous form amidst receding crimson-black ripples. It glared fiercely at the white-robed maiden whose face bore intricate markings, roaring in fury: "Why do you oppose us?!"
"You, who are also a child of the Beasts!"
"The monster can speak?" Ushiwakamaru blinked in surprise, then grinned. "How fascinating. That makes it even more worthy of beheading."
Ignoring such foolish questions, the human hero lunged forward. Sixteen crisscrossing slashes carved through the air before converging into a single devastating strike aimed at Baal Lahmu.
But Baal Lahmu no longer wished to engage this foe. Sensing imminent danger, it spread its wings to flee toward its mother.
A pained shriek echoed as black sword-like projectiles suddenly appeared across the sky. Flames and lightning erupted in succession, lashing Baal Lahmu's wings like divine whips until the creature plummeted from the clouds.
"Need assistance?"
A saint clad in robes tainted ominous black appeared beside Ushiwakamaru, placing a hand over his chest in greeting. With his other hand, he hurled Black Keys to pin the struggling Baal Lahmu in place.
"Lord Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, you've joined the battle as well?" Ushiwakamaru twirled her blade while studying the monster for openings. "It seems things proceed smoothly on the King's side."
"Let's say events follow the plan," the priest shrugged. "Though that fellow and I don't get along, so we've agreed to mutual non-interference."
"I see. Hence your presence on the flank." Ushiwakamaru's laughter faded as she vanished, her blade flashing toward Baal Lahmu. "Then let us fight together, my lord!"
"The honor is mine to battle alongside Lord Minamoto no Yoshitsune." Amakusa smiled, flipping Black Keys between his fingers as shadows woven with lightning and fire gathered.
The battle reignited—not just here. To prevent Baal Lahmu reinforcements and protect the main force advancing toward Tiamat, every Servant summoned by Gilgamesh (save Leonidas II, Benkei, and Jaguar Warrior guarding Uruk) had deployed across the battlefield. Empowered beyond measure, they forcibly immobilized their targets.
"Seven Baal Lahmu total. Four attempt to breach the Primordial Giants·Adams' defenses. The remaining three are restrained by Ushiwakamaru, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, Fuuma Kotarou, Ibaraki Douji, and Merlin."
Skimming low across the ground, Sakatsuki's perception expanded, monitoring the battlefield. "One Baal Lahmu senses danger and tries to escape... Ah, excellent work. It seems we needn't worry about Mother's guards for now."
"Don't speak as though victory is assured," Gilgamesh glanced at him. "Tiamat herself far surpasses those mongrels."
"Which is why we've brought such formidable allies." Sakatsuki began counting their forces. "Three goddesses, two Chains of Heaven, you the Keystone of Heaven, and Chaldea's Master."
He clasped his hands together cheerfully and said, "This wave, this wave is the Seven Major Sects besieging Bright Peak! The advantage is ours!"
Gilgamesh's face darkened.
What kind of time was this to still be joking!
As if provoked by the young man's brazen words, Tiamat in the distance trampled across the surging Sea of Origins, dangerous flames flickering as they erupted from the fissures in her gaping maw.
A casual strike from her was enough to rival an A-rank Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm!
Sensing the rapidly approaching bombardment, Sakatsuki didn't move—nor did Gilgamesh.
Instead, the crisp, clear sound of clashing chains rang out!
The pale golden Chains of Heaven extended endlessly, reaching toward the stars in the sky and the black tide upon the earth, as if seeking to encompass all under its dominion.
When the two wielders of the Chains of Heaven made identical gestures, the chains gathered together, forming an unyielding conical spear that pierced straight through Tiamat's attack!
Immediately after, using Sakatsuki's shoulder as a stepping stone to leap upward was little Anna in her black cloak.
"Come!"
Who she was calling to remained unclear, but with a hissing sound, a winged serpent emerged from her sleeve and plunged straight into Anna's chest.
After a brief silence, divine energy surged dramatically!
Layer upon layer of radiant light swirled as the girl's petite form rapidly expanded within the halo, finally transforming into purple serpentine hair, golden wings, divine-patterned armor, and eyes brimming with bewitching charm!
The Beast Goddess Gorgon had returned!
Amidst the howling of countless serpents, the Beast Goddess's hair suddenly elongated, violently entangling Tiamat's limbs and twisting them in different directions, tearing fiercely:
"I'll draw Mother's attention—everyone, hurry!"
"Well done, Anna!"
Soaring astride Maanna, Ishtar's eyes had already turned a brilliant gold at some point.
Though she was often persecuted in Uruk and played the role of a comedic character, one must not forget—she was the Goddess of Heaven in Mesopotamia!
Within this domain, she would receive divine reinforcement!
"Block the attacks for me—I'm going in!"
A golden spear tip materialized in her grasp as the dark-haired goddess raised her slender, pale arm and slashed it across the sky:
"Open the gates!"
At first, it was only the size of a face, but in the blink of an eye, a rainbow-hued starscape spanning countless light-years shimmered across the heavens!
"To the great sky, to the great earth!"
Upon the earth churned endless black flames, while in the sky, the authority of the Goddess of Heaven expanded wantonly, dazzling and romantic.
Gold—a golden planet emerged from the rift torn open by the goddess, its mere half-outline already comparable in size to Tiamat's cosmic battleship-like form! And when the goddess hurled her spear into Venus, the planet responded by transforming into a violet-gold arrow, coalescing upon the celestial boat Maanna.
Like a drawn bowstring, the celestial vessel drank in an incalculable amount of divine energy and mana, slowly and heavily tightening its shot. And when the goddess assumed her firing stance, this terrifying arrow—akin to a falling planet—burst forth from its chamber!
"This is the full extent of my power—SHATTER, 'Mountain-Shaking, Star-Splitting Heavenly Spark (An Gal Ta Kigal She)'!!!"
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!
The moment the arrow was loosed, a torrent of light illuminated the shadowed world. Like the laughter of a goddess, an endless pillar of destructive purple light crashed from the heavens onto the earth, transforming into an unrelenting beam of energy that struck Tiamat's draconic form. Amidst the scattering of scales, she let out a pained roar as the chains binding her body rattled violently, fissures spreading across them like cracks in glass.
Such was the terror of a single strike!
Yet the assault from Uruk did not cease!
"Come, Gorgon. You will do the same as I," murmured the monstrously large Beast Goddess, closing her eyes.
Beast-like scales crept over her breathtakingly beautiful face. When the woman—both divine and monstrous—opened her eyes again, her pupils vanished, replaced only by an endless purple radiance.
"Tiamat, I shall make you taste true pain!"
With the sound of shattering air, an ouroboros-shaped magic circle manifested before the Beast Goddess. The crimson-hued array spun rapidly, growing denser with each passing moment. When the goddess's own life force merged into it, this power—capable of sealing both herself and the world in destruction—finally enveloped her entire being.
"Become the great serpent, and strike down the dragon of the earth!"
Her serpentine hair writhed wildly as her wings folded inward. Behind the ancient, forbidden magic circle, the Beast Goddess transformed into a colossal cocoon. From the gaps outlined by her serpent locks, beams of blood-red light erupted forth.
"Compulsory Seal: Pandemonium Cetus!"
Sound vanished. Form dissolved.
After the goddess unleashed this strike at the cost of her life, the world was left in the silence of impending annihilation.
Tiamat's wail froze for an instant.
And in that instant, the sea of primordial black mud was torn asunder by the crimson light.
Scarlet radiance devoured everything!
The shockwave upheaved continental plates, ravaging the plains. Amidst the earth-shaking roar, a colossal mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
At the epicenter of destruction, within the infinite heat and light, the Mother Goddess and annihilation embraced fervently, rapidly dissolving and obliterating all in their path.
"Laaaa—"
A cry of pain escaped her lips, only to be drowned out by a far more deafening sound.
Tiamat could not comprehend—why did she still feel such excruciating agony when that person had already fallen into the sea of origin?
She struggled instinctively, her nature as a Beast still yearning to be the mother of all things, resisting obliteration once more.
And the world—answered her!
Under the stunned, even horrified gazes of Uruk's defenders, Tiamat merely raised her draconic head and let out a soundless roar. The grievous wounds inflicted by the two goddesses began to regenerate at an alarming rate. As her scorched and melted skin sloughed away, what emerged beneath was a surface as cold and unyielding as obsidian.
[Self-Modification: EX]
What could not kill her only made her stronger!
And so long as life endured in this world, she would never perish!
Upon realizing this truth, even the most legendary heroes, the most fearless warriors, could not help but tremble—their very souls on the verge of surrender.
How could such an enemy ever be defeated? It was unimaginable.
Amid the spreading hurricane, terrifying rays of dissolution swept forth again and again, utterly annihilating everything within thousands of miles. The earth trembled repeatedly, yet the draconic Beast II remained in its original form.
Only a mournful cry echoed, gazing up at the heavens with pity.
It endured this wrath from its own children.
Upon its body, ceaselessly cracking and healing, black droplets of blood spilled forth one after another.
Like tears of light.
A requiem resonated.
The Mother was using this excruciating pain to try and understand her children's resistance, their suffering and rage.
But whether it was her mercy or her love—
They were existences fundamentally incompatible with humanity!
Within the violent tremors of the gods' clash, the King of Uruk watched the Mother Goddess Tiamat, who merely endured the attacks without retaliation, and spoke softly as if struck by realization.
"Fujimaru Ritsuka."
"Ah, yes!" The fully armed youth turned his head, but the King did not look at him, continuing as if speaking to himself:
"Do you know why that cook came to this Singularity?"
"Why…?" Gilgamesh's words left Fujimaru momentarily stunned.
Indeed, why had Sakatsuki crossed time and space to arrive at the Seventh Singularity? Why had he willingly thrown himself into this brutal battlefield against the Beast, nearly succumbing to becoming a beast himself?
He could have left at any time.
He never needed to stand against the Mother Goddess Tiamat!
"Fujimaru." The Wise King called the youth's name once more. "Your journey in this Singularity has been the most arduous, and the Mother Goddess Tiamat is the strongest foe you have faced thus far."
Uruk's half-year-long resistance, the relentless sacrifices, the blood-soaked ruins of Eridu, the cities slaughtered by the Lahmu, the fall of the Sun Goddess…
To defeat the enemy that had threatened Mesopotamia all this time, humanity had lost far too much. Even now, having overcome all obstacles to stand before Tiamat, merely breaking through her defenses had required the full might of two goddesses.
"To reach this point, everyone has exhausted every means at their disposal. But it is still not enough."
"That woman still knows no fear, recognizes no natural enemy—she does not know of him, the embodiment of 'Death'!"
Dong… Dong… Dong…
The tolling of the evening bell!
At some point, a figure clad in black robes appeared atop Tiamat's head!
Tiamat raised her head in alarm, and upon seeing that nightmare-inducing bone mask and sensing the maddeningly familiar presence, she let out a shriek of terror!
"This is the reason Sakatsuki appeared in this land." Watching Tiamat's reaction, Gilgamesh broke into a triumphant grin. "The world's weapon capable of opposing the Beast of Retribution—in other words—"
"A Grand Servant!"
As his words fell, not only did the people of Uruk gasp in shock, but even Dr. Roman in the Chaldea Command Room wore an expression of disbelief.
And Gilgamesh laughed heartily:
"Gaze upon the heavens, O Primordial Sea—your Reaper stands before you!"